Attachment for shoes



Jan. 12 1926.

K. B. SUNDERLAND ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES Filed Nov. 15, 1924 EVBENTOR Y M, W a n-Ea."

Patented Jan. 12, 1926, I v

UNITED STATES KATHERINE B. SUNDERLAND, 0F DA NBUR Y, CONNECTICUT.

ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES.

Application filed November 15, 1924. Serial No. 750,044.

To'aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I,KATER1NE B. SUNDER- LAND, a citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Danbury, in the county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Attachments for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoes and more particularly to low shoes, such as pumps, Oxfords, and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction for such shoes adapted materially to decrease the wear at the heel of the stocking. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature whereby the wear which may occur at the heel of the stocking is confined to a' portion thereof which may be mended without detracting from the appearance ofthe stocking. Another object is to provide such a construction adapted to add'to the comfort of the wearer of the shoes. Another object is to provide an attachment. for shoes of the above nature which is simple and inexpensive and conveniently attachable to the shoes. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed o'ut hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. I I

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a shoe partly cut away to show the attachment in position therein;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the shoe just in advance of the heel and looking rearwardly Figure 3 shows the attachment. in elevation before insertion in the shoe, and

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 the rear portion of a low shoe 10, in this instance being illustrated as a ladies pump. In such shoes the chief point of contact between the heel of the stocking and the shoe is normally along the top rear edge 11 of the counter or heel portion 12 of the shoe. This top edge is'ordinarily curved inwardly, as shown in the drawing, in the manufacture of the shoes to engage the heel of the wearer illldl hold the shoe from slipping off at the lee be held upon the foot, there is always a certain amount of relative up and down move- No matter how firmly the shoe may ment in use between the heel of the shoe and the foot, this top edge 11 pressing against the heel of the stocking and rubmend is always conspicuous, showing above the top of the shoe, and, the usefulness of the stocking is destroyed.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown secured against the inner surface of the counter 12 of the shoes and centrally positioned at the rear thereof a small member 13 of yielding material, which is preferably of wool felt or fur felt,rubber, preferably spongy, or material of a similar nature.

This member is small and unobtrusive, be-

ing preferably on the order of one-sixteenth or one-eighth of an inch in thickness, is preferably substantially. circular in shape as shown, and one inch or thereabout in diameter therebyrestingwholly against the rear of the counter and not extending around the sides. The member is positioned in the shoe adjacent the top edge 11, the upper edge of the member being preferablyspaced from the edge 11 of the shoe by abo'ut one-quarter of an inch. The device thus rests snugly against the counter 12 of the shoe adjacent the top edge 11 andits height is substantially less than the height of the counter of the shoe.

The member 13 thus presses the heel of the stocking inwardly or forwardly so that the stocking is held out of engagement with the edge 11 of the shoe, or at least engages this edge only very lightly. Thus, as the shoe slides up and down relatiy'e to the heel. there is no rubbing between the edge 11 and the stocking, and wearing of a hole in the stocking at the top of the shoe is avoided. The engagement between the stocking and the shoe occurs through the yielding felt member 13, so that any wear which may occur occurs at this portion of the stocking which is concealed by the shoe. Repairs may be made at this point without being visible. Moreover, the nature of the felt is such that the wear upon the stocking occasioned by rubbing contact of the stocking therewith is far less than that occasioned by rubbing contact of the stocking and the leather of the shoe. The soft yielding nature of the surface of the felt is peculiarly adapted to prevent wear of the stocking rubbing thereaga-inst. In addition, the yielding nature of the felt pad throughout permits a certain amount of relative movement between the stocking and the shoe without relative movement between the stocking and the adjacent surface of the felt. It will thus be seen that the life of the stocking is greatly increased.

The felt member, as has been described, is preferably substantially circular in shape. In addition, its edges are )referably of irregular con-tour being, for example, serrated or scalloped as shown. Also, substantially at its center, the member is provided with an opening which is preferably irregular in shape, for example, substantially star shaped. The felt member is thus substantially of the shape of av ring having irregular inner and outer edges. The effect of this construction of the felt member is to evenly distribute the pressure of the shoe therethrough against the heel. The member While relatively small and thus readily attachable as well, as unobtrusive, is prevented from causing discomfort and from unduly concentrating the pressure of the shoe against the heel by reason ofthe fact that the formation of its edge or edges, illustratively of serrated form, brings about a distribution of the pressure beyond what would bethe edge of the main body portion and: thu a. concentration of pressure; at such an edge-is avoided. The felt is permitted to yield evenly at all. points and; throughout the entire area of contact against the heelthe, pressure is uni-form. The. felt will conform to. any slight irregularity in; the: shape ofthe heel, thereby adding. greatly to; the comfort of the wearer.

The felt pad is secured in. place preferably by means of a suitable adhesive. As shown inrFigure 3,.the adhesive may be ap plied to the face of. amember of paper or fabric 14,,which is secured against the rear face of the felt pad ,,also by. a suitable adhesive. The padsmay be made up and held in readiness for application to any. pair of shoes by. simply moistening the adhesive on the rear surface of the member M and pressingthe pad into place in the shoe.

Fromthe above, it will be seen that there is herein provided a device which embodies the features of this invention and attains the objects thereof, including many advantages of great practical value. The devices are inexpensive and simply made, and are applied with the greatest convenience.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

i claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a member of yielding felt in: the shape of a flat ring, said member being adapted to be interposed between the foot and the shoe to hold a portion of the foot away from contact with the shoe, the inner and outer edges of said ring shaped memher having projecting serrations adapted to distribute beyond the main body portion of the ring the pressure of the shoe therethrough to the foot, and adhesive means upon one of the flat sides of said member for securing the same in position.

2. A device of the class described comprising a fiat ring-shaped member of yielding felt adapted to be secured flatwise against the inner surface of the rear of the counter of the shoe, said member having a maximum outer diameter less than the l'ieight of the counter and adapted to be positioned with its upper edge spaced from the upper edge of the counter, the heel of the stocking being adapted to bear against said member and to be thereby urged away from said upper edge of the counter, the inner and outer edges of said ring-shaped member having projecting serrations adapted to distribute beyond the mainbody portion of the member the pressure of'the shoe therethrough to the foot.

3. A device of the class described comprising a ring-shaped member of yielding material adapted to be centrally positioned flatwise a ainst the inner surface of the counter of a slice, the largest dimension of said member being substantially less than the height of said counter and said member being adapted to be positioned with its upper edge spaced from the upper edge of the counter, the heel of the stocking being adapted to. be thereby urged away from the upper edge of said counter, said menibercomprising a main body portion and an outer portion about said main. body portion having part of the material thereof cut away, said outer portion being adapted to distribute against the heel the pressure p of the shoe transmitted through said 1nen1- her at the outer peripheral portions thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this third day of November 1924c.

KATHERINE B. SUNDERLAND. 

